Posted by Chinenye on Fri 28th Aug, 2026 - tori.ng
Governor Alex Otti has broken his silence over the ASUU strike at Abia State University Uturu, admitting that something went wrong after an approval he had given months earlier.
(Governor Alex Otti. Photo by Daily Post)
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has apologised to the Academic Staff Union of Universities at Abia State University Uturu for failing to implement an approval he granted in April 2026.
Otti made the apology on Thursday while speaking at the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Abia State's creation.
He said the strike embarked upon by ASUU members at the university would not have happened if his approval had been properly carried out.
The governor explained that the union made requests to him which he reviewed and found to be legitimate. He approved them.
But months later, he discovered the approvals had not been implemented by the committee he had tasked with the job.
"Their requests came to me. I looked at those requests, and they were legitimate requests, and I approved them.
But months later, I'm not saying weeks, I was told that yes, you have approved, but it had not been implemented," Otti said.
He took responsibility for what happened, apologising publicly to the university and ASUU.
He said the strike was avoidable and warned his officials that if such a situation occurred again, there would be serious consequences.
Former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka delivered the anniversary lecture.
He noted that increased education budgets and the rebuilding of damaged school buildings in Abia State were helping to reduce the gap between what rich children and poor children have access to in terms of education.